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Rice Football 2023: NFL Owls Week 9 Roundup

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Rice Football is well represented on 2023 NFL rosters. Here’s the latest from the NFL Owls in action in Week 9.

There are former Rice football players scattered across the NFL. Stay tuned each week for their game results and notables from each player.

Team NFL Owl(s) This Week Result Next Week
Denver Broncos Elijah Garcia (DL)  — BYE —  — at Bills (MNF)
Detroit Lions Jack Fox (P)  — BYE —  — at Chargers
Indianapolis Colts Kylen Granson (TE) at Panthers W, 27-13 at Patriots
Los Angeles Rams Austin Trammell (WR) at Packers L, 20-3  — BYE —
New England Patriots Calvin Anderson (OL) vs Commanders L, 20-17 vs Colts
Pittsburgh Steelers Chris Boswell (PK) vs Titans W, 20-16 vs Packers
Seattle Seahawks Myles Adams (DL) at Ravens L, 37-3 vs Commanders
Tampa Bay Bucs Nick Leverett (OL) vs Texans L, 39-37 vs Titans

Offense

Calvin Anderson – OT, Patriots

Anderson was inactive for the Patriots’ Week 9 game against the Commanders.

Kylen Granson – TE, Colts

Granson returned to the field after missing the last two weeks with a concussion. He was targeted twice this week but did not record any receptions.

Nick Leverett – OT, Buccaneers

Leverett was active but did not play in the Bucs’ Week 9 game against the Texans.

Austin Trammell – WR, Rams

Trammel was busy on Sunday, returning three punts, one kick return and recording a six yard reception.

Defense

Myles Adams – DL, Seahawks

Adams was inactive for the Seahawks Week 9 game against the Ravens.

Elijah Garcia – DL, Broncos

Garcia and the Broncos were on bye in Week 9.

Special Teams

Jack Fox – P, Lions

Fox and the Lions were on bye in Week 9.

Chris Boswell – K, Steelers

Boswell was perfect once again this week, delivering a pair of short field goals and two extra points in the Steelers’ Thursday Night Football victory over the Titans.

More Owls in the NFL

From practice squads to current free agents, there are other Owls on the cusp of returning to active rosters. Find more detail on current contractual agreements and former Rice football players waiting for their next opportunity here.

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The Roost Podcast | Ep 166 – Rice Football falls short vs SMU

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Rice football was down multiple defensive starters and had no JT Daniels late, but still managed to give SMU a dogfight down to the final whistle.

When Rice football quarterback JT Daniels didn’t emerge from halftime, the situation felt dire. Yet somehow, Rice rallied and gave one of the best teams in the AAC a run for their money. This isn’t a podcast purposed to dwell on moral victories, but there were a lot of things to take away from this game, many of them good. We break it down in this week’s show.

You can find previous episodes on the podcast page. For now, give a listen to Episode 166.

Episode Notes

DCTF

The Roost Podcast is now part of the Dave Campbell’s Republic of Football Podcast Network. You’ll still get the same content with the same hosts, but now under the DCTF banner.

Homefield

We’re thrilled to partner with Homefield Apparel, the premier proprietor of college football clothing. First-time buyers can use the code ROOST for 15% off their order. The Owls hoodie is a personal favorite. So is the brand new Luv-Ya-Owls shirt. Shop the Rice collection or pick up something else (or both)!

Homefield

Patreon

Get exclusive insight on Patreon. Be the first to get the inside scoop on what’s going on with Rice football and stick around for even further analysis. That includes practice updates, analysis and more. Your support matters and makes The Roost better.

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Recapping Rice Football vs SMU

  • A loss that will sting, even given the circumstances
  • Special teams shows out
  • OC Marques Tuiasosopo calls a brilliant game
  • Proof of concept on offense, even without JT Daniels
  • Defense makes big plays late
  • Massive matchup looms this weekend against UTSA

Where can you find us?

The Roost Podcast is part of the Dave Campbell’s Republic of Football Podcast Network. You can find this podcast and all of our partner podcasts on Apple, Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts.ri

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Rice Women’s Basketball silences HCU in historic defensive performance

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Rice women’s basketball pitched a near-perfect defensive performance in their season opener against HCU, holding the Huskies to 38 points in the win.

The crowd filling the lower bowl of Tudor Fieldhouse hadn’t even had time to exhale from their raucous cheering at the opening tip before Rice Women’s Basketball had its first lead of the 2023-2024 season. Malia Fisher won the tip, got the ball to Destiny Jackson and watched as Owls’ senior leader drained a three to put Rice in front.

Those three points by themselves would nearly be enough to preserve the Owls’ advantage in the first half. Rice held Houston Christian to a meager 6.5 percent shooting mark from the field, holding the visiting Huskies to just five first half points, a school record.

“It’s definitely something that we’ve worked really hard on,” head coach Lindsay Edmonds said of her team’s defensive performance, mentioning her team’s experience in her system. “They know exactly what I want and they know what the expectations are.”

It would prove to be the start of a historic defensive performance for the Owls. Just three times in the past 10 seasons had Rice held an opponent to fewer than 40 points. The program record is 28 points, set against Prairie View A&M in 1994. To even be in that conversation is impressive.

Houston Christian entered the fourth quarter with just 17 total points. With history in reach, Rice limited HCU to just 21 more, posting a 70-38 win in their season opener.

Rice women’s basketball didn’t secure a program-best defensive performance — at least not according to the record books — but Edmonds and company will take the win, soak in the strong defensive showing and get to work on tightening up the mistakes.

“Winning is hard. The expectations are set really high for this team and we’re striving for perfection,” Edmonds said. “I feel like tonight we showed in spurts who we are, but I don’t think we played a 40-minute game of Rice women’s basketball. I think there’s definitely some areas that we can clean up and improve in, but [we’re] 1-0 to start the season and I’m proud of them for that.”

Final Box | Rice 70 – HCU 38

Key takeaway | Don’t worry about the offense

Counting the exhibition, this was just the second game this team has played together against people wearing different color jerseys. If you’re going to have some growing pains, it’s best to get them out of the way against opponents the caliber of HCU before getting to the meat of the nonconference schedule — and that is coming — but for now, Rice is happy to take the win and plenty of teaching material.

The offense was never a serious concern for this program under Edmonds, not in the slightest. Rice led Conference USA in field goal percentage last season and would have ranked second by a few percentage points to AAC-leading USF. This team can shoot. The scoring will come.

“There’s going to be nights when the shot doesn’t fall,” Edmonds said. “But the two things that we can control is our defensive intensity and our rebounding effort.”

Rice won the battle of the boards 57 to 32. The defensive performance speaks for itself.

Scoring is volatile. Defense is more absolute. Either you can defend at a high level or you can’t. Monday’s debut game against Houston Christian suggests Rice might be pretty good in that respect. The baskets will come.

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Rice Football 2023 Game Preview: UTSA

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Rice football visits UTSA this week in another matchup of Texas-based AAC teams. How to watch, key stats, x-factor picks and more.

UTSA took care of business last weekend, holding on to beat North Texas on the road. Rice football was less fortunate, falling at home to SMU in a game that came down to the final possession. That sets up a pivotal matchup for both teams this weekend. Here’s everything you need to know about the matchup between Rice and UTSA.

Kickoff time | 6:30 PM CT
Venue | Alamodome – San Antonio, TX
TV | ESPNU (Viewing Guide)
Radio | Varsity Radio App (Online)

Audio / Visual Preview

We’ll preview Rice football vs UTSA on this week’s episode of the Blue and Gray Preview Show, streaming live on Wednesday at Noon on the Rice Athletics YouTube channel. Look for a recap of the game on the site afterward as well as on The Roost Podcast, which should be released early next week.

Sizing up the contenders

UTSA is still very much in the hunt for a spot in the AAC Championship Game, but getting there might still require some work. They’re undefeated in league play, but so are the Tulane Green Wave and the SMU Mustangs. The Roadrunners need to keep winning to stay in the race.

For Rice, they’ve turned their attention to a second consecutive bowl berth. With three games remaining, the Owls need two wins. Getting one of those this weekend with a road trip looming in Charlotte would be an extremely encouraging result. Knocking off UTSA in the process would be another signature win for head coach Mike Bloomgren. 

Series History

All Time | UTSA leads, 7-3
Last Five | UTSA leads, 5-0
Last Meeting | Home 2022, UTSA won 41-7

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Rice Football Stat Notables

Passing | Daniels – 121/287 (63.1 percent), 2443 yards, 21 TD, 7 INT
Rushing | Connors – 65 carries, 414 yards (6.4 yards per carry), 5 TD / Otoviano – 63 carries, 225 yards (3.6 yards per carry), 4 TD
Receiving | McCaffrey – 45 receptions, 700 yards (15.6 yds/rec), 9 TDs / Connors – 35 receptions, 371 yards (10.6 yds/rec), 3 TD
Tackles | Wyatt – 60 / Morrison – 54 / Conti – 52
Pass Breakups | Fresch, Taylor, Devones – 6 / Wyatt – 5 /  Jean, Flowers – 3
Interceptions | Taylor -2 / Devones, Conti – 1

UTSA Stat Notables

Passing | Harris – 147/228 (64.5 percent), 1722 yards, 13 TD, 6 INT
Rushing | Barnes – 127 carries, 606 yards (4.8 yards per carry), 6 TD / Horry – 70 carries, 419 yards (6.0 ypc), 7 TD
Receiving | Cephus – 62 receptions, 750 yards (12.1 yards per reception), 7 TD / Ogle-Kellogg – 26 receptions, 440 yards (16.9 yds/rec), 6 TD / McCuin – 25 receptions, 365 yards (14.6 yds/rec), 2 TD
Tackles | Robinson – 47 / French – 45 / Moore, Wisdom – 40
Pass Breakups | Alexander – 11 / Fortune – 5 / Wisdom – 4
Interceptions | Davidson – 2, Five tied with one

UTSA X-Factor | Make Rice one-dimensional

The UTSA defense hasn’t been nearly as dominant as it’s been in previous seasons, but they have found success on the ground against conference opponents. UTSA’s five AAC opponents have averaged just 3.3 yards per carry, the second-best mark in the league. Given the Owls’ uncertainty at quarterback this week, controlling the ground game has to be near the top of the Roadrunners’ objectives.

But the numbers go deeper than those averages. UTSA’s last two games — closer wins against East Carolina and North Texas — have been kept close by their opponents’ rushing successes. Those two teams combined to rush for 328 yards against the Roadrunners. That defense was able to snuff out poor rushing teams, but can they limit the tandem of Dean Connors and Juma Otoviano?

Rice is going to want to run the football. UTSA has to stop them. If they can, the Owls are going to have less margin for error with their offense, regardless of which quarterback is on the field. 

Rice X-Factor | Be Physical 

Through the first two drives for Rice football against SMU, things looked like they might be over quickly. The Owls were getting blasted off the ball, losing battles in the trenches and were fortunate to get a big special teams play to keep them in the game. Then the team adjusted and started throwing haymakers of their own.

From the second quarter on the physicality with which Rice played was unmistakable. It’s the only compelling explanation for how a defense that was missing four starters (Jojo Jean, Josh Pearcy, Chris Conti, and Gabe Taylor) was able to go toe-to-toe with one of the most productive offenses in the AAC. Likewise, a Rice offense relying on a backup quarterback had tremendous success against a potent SMU front. 

Cornerback Sean Fresch explained it this way. “SMU’s offense hasn’t played a defense like ours and hasn’t really been in a dogfight like that,” he said. “Once they saw they were in that, we fed off of that. That’s what we do. No retreat, no surrender. That’s our saying.”

The injury report is lengthy this week. Rice will be the underdog once again. It’s going to take creative scheming on both sides of the ball and some fortunate bounces, but above all, Rice has to come ready to go 10 rounds and trade blows with UTSA. If they can punch back, the Roadrunners will have a game on their hands.

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One Final Thing

For two weeks in a row, Rice football has come up agonizingly short from a statement win. Beating either Tulane or SMU would have been momentous for the Owls’ program. Knocking off UTSA, especially if Rice enters the game undermanned, might be equally impressive.

On a personal note, I had a conversation in the press box a few weeks ago with someone who isn’t directly on the Rice beat but pays attention to the program. We agreed that although this team was maddeningly inconsistent at times, they had the potential and the talent to deliver one more statement win.

Whether it was against Tulane, SMU, or UTSA, we agreed Rice would find a way to win one of them.

If that prediction is going to come true, Rice has to find a way to win this weekend.  

No matter the outcome, Bloomgren’s reminder following the SMU game rings true. When addressing the comeback that fell short, Bloomgren said this: “That’s something we never could have done in years past. We never would have been able to rally around a freshman quarterback and give him a chance to make some plays and make this thing a really good game against a great team.”

He was 100 percent correct. This Rice team is better than they’ve ever been. Sooner or later, that talent has to shine through. Otherwise, the Owls will be the unluckiest of teams once again. It’s possible, but that math suggests otherwise. Hopefully the scales balance back this weekend. The Owls are certainly due.

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AAC Football 2023: Week 10 Roundup

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AAC Football was back in action this weekend. Here’s the latest from the teams on the gridiron in Week 10.

Team Record  This Week Result Up Next
Charlotte 3-6 (2-3) at Tulsa W, 33-26 (OT) vs Memphis
ECU 1-8 (0-5) vs Tulane L, 13-10 at FAU
FAU 4-5 (2-3) at UAB L, 45-42 vs ECU
Memphis 7-2 (4-1) vs USF W, 59-50 at Charlotte
Navy 3-5 (2-4) at Temple L, 32-18 vs UAB
North Texas 3-6 (1-4) vs UTSA L, 37-29 at SMU
Rice 4-5 (2-3) vs SMU L, 36-31 at UTSA
SMU 7-2 (5-0) at Rice W, 36-31 vs North Texas
Temple 3-6 (1-4) vs Navy W, 32-18 at USF
Tulane 8-1 (5-0) at ECU W, 13-10 vs Tulsa
Tulsa 3-6 (1-4) vs Charlotte L, 33-26 (OT) at Tulane
UAB 3-6 (2-3) vs FAU W, 45-42 at Navy
USF 4-5 (2-3) at Memphis L, 59-50 vs Temple
UTSA 5-3 (5-0) at North Texas W, 37-29 vs Rice

Notable Results (Standings)

Survive and advance

Tulane, UTSA and SMU remain unbeaten in league play, posting a combined 15-0 perfect record, but that doesn’t mean it was smooth sailing to get there. All three faced scares of various degrees this weekend, with Tulane and SMU facing do-or-die defensive stands to close out the game in the fourth quarter against teams that now sport losing conference records.

Not in last!

Charlotte found a way to edge Tulsa on Saturday, giving them two conference wins and officially lifting them to at least fifth from worst in the league standings. It’s not last place, to headman Biff Poggi’s delight, but it isn’t exactly a resounding success either. The 49ers sit at 3-6 in need of three more wins to reach bowl eligibility, let alone contend in the conference against the better teams.

On the board

Temple got its first AAC win this weekend, taking care of business against Navy thanks to quarterback EJ Warner being back in the lineup. There are no guarantees the Owls would have had a significantly better season without Warner’s injury, but it’s encouraging to see them right the ship with their trusty signal caller back at the helm.

Looking ahead – Key storylines

QB-who?

Rice and SMU both lost starting quarterbacks in their game this past weekend with Preston Stone and JT Daniels returning to the fields without their helmets after hits to the head. Whether or not they’re cleared this week we’ll be a critical storyline to follow for both squads. Rice is fighting for bowl eligibility and SMU still has very real conference championship aspirations.

Postseason possibilities on the table

We’ve reached the point of the calendar when the middle-tier teams in the conference standings are going to start to feel the pressure to secure their tickets to the postseason. There’s one such do-or-die matchup for both squads next weekend when Navy visits UAB. Both have a game to spare in the loss column, but this is a game both sides likely feel they should be able to win.

Gotta take care of business

The race for the top of the AAC remains razor thin, with one-loss Memphis still very much alive as we enter the final stretch. None of the top four play each other this weekend, but the margin for error could be as little as one game. All four (Tulane, UTSA, SMU and Memphis) should be favorites, but they’d better make sure they take care of business if they want a shot at a conference crown in a few weeks.



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